Ear:
Embryos can develop ears within the first two weeks
After a chicken is born, its hearing is critical because the hen uses auditory systems to teach the offspring what to eat and what to not eat
Chicken ears have three parts: an outer ear, an inner ear and an middle ear
There is a single cartilage in the chicken ear known as the "columella"
Ear Lobe:
The ear lobe is a is a modification of skins
Its located below the opening of the ear
Chickens tend to have different colored ear lobes
Combs and Wattle:
These tend to vary in size and shape
Chickens control their body temperature with their wattle and combs
Size and color are based on sex hormones- they signifiy sexual maturity and attraction
Feathers shield the chickens from damage and help with body temperature regulation
They are made of keratin
Types of chicken feathers:
Hackles: neck feathers along the side and back of neck
Wing Feathers: fight and covert feathers on the wing
Fluff Feathers: these help to keep the chicken warm
Tail Feathers: main tail feathers and coverts, roosters have long curved sickles. These help the chicken balance
Molting is the shedding of feathers to make room for new feathers
Chickens molt at least once a year
Hens usually molt when they stop laying eggs in the winter
Molting happens in a specific order: head, neck, body, wings, tail
The picture shows the growth of the new feathers coming in through keratinization
This is a large vein under the wing
This is between the biceps brachialis and the triceps humeralis muscles
It is used for blood collection and drainage of the wings
It is part of the cardiovascular system
This is a large sebaceous gland
This is covered by tail feathers
This secretes oil to be distributed throughout the feathers
This helps waterproof their feathers
It also helps fight antimicrobial activity against feather-degrading bacteria